America's Benefit Specialist November 2023

MEDICARE MATTERS

Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Utah. All D-SNPs offer $0 Part D drugs, dental, vision, hearing and an Extra Benefits Card with a new Extra Supports Wallet. It features an enhanced allowance for members to spend on things they need the most, like healthy foods, utilities, rent/ mortgage, OTC items, gas, transportation, personal care items and pet care supplies. On select D-SNPs, members can earn an additional $30 per month in their Extra Supports Wallet by selecting a high-value primary care provider. Expanded options for people who get Extra Help: Aetna offers Value Plus MA plans that provide additional value for individuals who qualify for Extra Help—also known as Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). These plans feature low premiums, dental, vision, hearing, SilverSneakers fitness benefit, OTC allowance and $0 copays for in-network primary-care visits and labs. Through the new Aetna Assist program, those with Extra Help may qualify for $0 plan premiums and addition al benefits like $0 Part D drugs and an Extra Benefits Card. Aetna Assist packages vary by plan. The Inflation Reduction Act expanded eligibility for the Extra Help program, qualifying more Medicare beneficiaries for the program in 2024. Expanded Aetna Medicare Eagle MA-only plans: Aetna expanded these MA-only plans to 43 states (adding Arkansas) and 1,591 counties—reaching more than 6.3 million veterans over age 65 in 2024. These plans offer additional benefits for veterans or individuals who already have prescription drug coverage. All 2024 Aetna Medicare Eagle plans will feature a $0 monthly plan premium, $0 primary care copay (including walk-in clinics), dental, vision, hearing, OTC allowance and a SilverSneakers fitness benefit. These plans also offer $0 copays for labs, colonoscopies and routine eye and hearing exams. Most MA-only plans include a Part B premium reduc tion benefit. New Medicare SmartFit plans: These are designed for prescription drug plan customers considering switching to a Medicare Advantage plan. These $0 monthly premium plans include dental, vision and hearing. There is also a variety of no-cost benefits like $0 in-network primary care visits and labs and $0 Tier 1 generics at preferred pharmacies and through mail order. Additionally, these plans help consumers stay healthy with a SilverSneakers fitness membership and a fitness reimbursement benefit of $600-$1,200 annually for activities like pickleball, golf and more. Expanded Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) prod ucts: In continued collaboration with Longevity Health, Aetna will offer new I-SNPs in Ohio and New York and expand its footprint in Pennsylvania. These plans are specifically designed for people living in nursing homes. They include prescription drug coverage and provide enhanced access to on-site care in the facility. Members receive additional bene fits tailored to help improve their quality of life by caring for their unique medical, social and emotional needs.

Medicare can be confusing so Aetna simplified its plans and invested in those benefits that are most important to mem bers. To make staying healthy easier, the company looked closely at benefit details and made meaningful improve ments, like replacing frozen foods with freshly prepared meals. Visit AetnaMedicare.com to learn more. BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA MEETS DIVERSE NEEDS OF BENEFICIARIES WITH BENEFITS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR 2024 HEALTH COVERAGE As the Medicare 2024 Annual Election Period for healthcare coverage began, Blue Shield of California addressed the diverse physical and mental health care needs of seniors with a robust line of products and services members can access through traditional in-person care and technology-based virtual and digital options. Here’s a snapshot of Blue Shield’s healthcare coverage offerings during the 2024 Annual Election Period. These ben efits may differ by plan and county: Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Plan Highlights: Medical benefits for most members include no to low copays for phy sician visits, and inpatient and outpatient hospital visits. Dental coverage with an extensive network for general and specialty care dentists in California. Benefits include coverage for teeth cleanings, annual X-rays, fillings, and basic preventive and diagnostic services, when using network providers. Vision benefits include coverage for eye exams, frames, eyeglasses or contact lenses that are not covered by original Medicare. SilverSneakers®2Fitness Program is a fitness benefit avail able at no extra cost to members. Blue Shield Inspire (HMO D-SNP) includes a Healthy Grocery allowance, OTC items allowance, hearing aids, 24/7 access to doctors by phone or video, and help with transpor tation to and from healthcare appointments at no extra cost to eligible members. Blue Shield offers concierge services with dedicated agents who can assist Medicare Advantage members with scheduling appointments with primary care physicians and specialists, obtaining test results and medical equipment, closing care gaps, and other important services. Trusted Provider Network: As people age into Medicare, the ability to keep their provider is important to them. To address this need, Blue Shield offers one of the largest networks of doctors and specialists in California for its Medicare Advan tage plans, which also include prescription drug coverage. Blue Shield’s Medicare Supplement Plan: With a Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Plan, seniors can visit any doc tor who accepts Medicare. Some of Blue Shield’s Medicare Supplement plans have extra benefits for members, includ ing the Plan G Inspire one-year Classic AAA Membership with

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